For over a decade Google featured the same, clean user interface. This clean user interface was no small part of Google becoming the commercial and cultural juggernaut that it is today.

Now they have changed it.

Last week I heard various people exclaim, out loud, “What did they do to my Google?” The sentence not only shows how personally people feel their connection to Google is, but also how disappointed they were with the change.

However they feel, they can’t change the fact that Google’s formally clean search results now includes a sidebar that makes my netbook feel quite cluttered indeed. Many people are trying to find out how to remove the Google sidebar.

1. Secret Google URL

It would seem that Google’s own forums aren’t immune to hatred towards the interface change. This conversation includes some terse language about the change, but if you read long enough you’ll find this gem of information from one drchinni:

There’s also a Greasemonkey script that’ll make the Google sidebar go away: REMOVE Google Sidebar, brought to you by Vin. Using this extension for less than a second before it’s pleasantly removed from view.

3. Chrome Plugin

Chrome users can try installing the above Greasemonkey script, but if you’re looking for a native plugin look no further than Aaron Landerkin’s Hide Google Options Script. This plugin will work much like you expect it to, removing the sidebar from Google. Sure, it adds an unnecessary button to your toolbar, but I’m sure this will be removed in upcoming releases.

4. IE Custom Search Provider

If you’re amongst those who have not yet dumped Internet Explorer for Chrome or Firefox, don’t worry: there’s a workaround for you too. If Google’s your homepage you can always switch to the URL above, of course, but you may also want a search provider built into your toolbar for using the clean Google.

Much thanks to Koderic, who explained this process in the previously referred to Google conversation.

Conclusion

Sometimes companies make interface choices end-users find annoying. I’m glad the web provides so many options for us to switch things back – no other medium in human history is this customizable.

What do you guys know that I don’t? Is there an amazing method to remove the Google sidebar that I’m missing? Or am I just really, really stubborn for wanting to hold on to my old-fashioned search page? Commenting will make all your friends think you’re cool, so you’d better do that.

I hate the new sidebar, I actually get to this page trying to find online a solution for this since I need to search for different images at the same time to choose the right one, the new side bar displays the images in a different format, I'm talking about the size, and before you click it the image expands itself. It's just annoying that I can't look at a big group of images in a small size, that way finding the right one would be an easier process. Also doesn't help when the wireless connection is slow since it has to show bigger images at the same time and expand them every time.

The only possible reason for Google NOT offering the option to collapse the sidebar is the hope that they will generate a few more ad-clicks by drawing the user's eye away from the relevant search results. Pretty low for a company whose mission statement is all about the user experience. http://tinyurl.com/38jjbyr

The only possible reason for Google NOT offering the option to collapse the sidebar is the hope that they will generate a few more ad-clicks by drawing the user's eye away from the relevant search results. Pretty low for a company whose mission statement is all about the user experience. http://tinyurl.com/38jjbyr

I have made some comments regarding this issue on a few websites, and my question is the same: How do I "completely" turn google into its old self?

All the solutions that I've come across are only partially effective. I have changed the google logo, I have removed the sidebar, but I haven't managed to remove the bold fonts (which is somehow the most annoying part) and the shiny buttons.

I have found two solutions that "completely" change google, but they have their own glitches.

First one is the "secret google url". But it is missing suggestions and spell check.

The second solution is to use the firefox addon "IE Tab". It will only work if you have IE6 installed, as IE6 still displays the old google design. This solution is perfect, except for that you cannot middle click or ctrl click to open links in new tabs.

So, my search for the perfect solution continues. I am pretty sure it's achievable through greasemonkey. Now I am waiting for some hero to code the perfect script.

PS: Know of any other good search engines (other than bing and yahoo)?

I have made some comments regarding this issue on a few websites, and my question is the same: How do I "completely" turn google into its old self?

All the solutions that I've come across are only partially effective. I have changed the google logo, I have removed the sidebar, but I haven't managed to remove the bold fonts (which is somehow the most annoying part) and the shiny buttons.

I have found two solutions that "completely" change google, but they have their own glitches.

First one is the "secret google url". But it is missing suggestions and spell check.

The second solution is to use the firefox addon "IE Tab". It will only work if you have IE6 installed, as IE6 still displays the old google design. This solution is perfect, except for that you cannot middle click or ctrl click to open links in new tabs.

So, my search for the perfect solution continues. I am pretty sure it's achievable through greasemonkey. Now I am waiting for some hero to code the perfect script.

PS: Know of any other good search engines (other than bing and yahoo)?

The new sidebar is probably Google's way of hinting that there's more to them than just the organic search results.

Given the fact that people search for stuff in different ways, it is actually useful to get your information from multiple sources and formats. I guess that's what Google is trying to emphasize through its new interface.

The new sidebar is probably Google's way of hinting that there's more to them than just the organic search results.

Given the fact that people search for stuff in different ways, it is actually useful to get your information from multiple sources and formats. I guess that's what Google is trying to emphasize through its new interface.

Whoo! I hate the bar, since I search using Firefox' address bar and type 'g' for a search and 'img' for an image search (and don't really use any of the other services). I almost never need to click to get to another search; when I do, I click in the top toolbar.

Installed the Greasemonkey script. My only two beefs are 1) that it includes * (so I manually changed it to work only on Google search pages) and 2) that AutoPager bugs out a teensy bit.

Whoo! I hate the bar, since I search using Firefox' address bar and type 'g' for a search and 'img' for an image search (and don't really use any of the other services). I almost never need to click to get to another search; when I do, I click in the top toolbar.

Installed the Greasemonkey script. My only two beefs are 1) that it includes * (so I manually changed it to work only on Google search pages) and 2) that AutoPager bugs out a teensy bit.

i think it would be silly to get rid of it. I used http://www.clusty.com for a while just because of the "category" bar, and im really glad google implemented it. it makes narrowing down your search results a lot less annoying. i dont really want to use boolean operators in a search bar, id rather just click a button.

i think it would be silly to get rid of it. I used http://www.clusty.com for a while just because of the "category" bar, and im really glad google implemented it. it makes narrowing down your search results a lot less annoying. i dont really want to use boolean operators in a search bar, id rather just click a button.

For those that use googlepedia I thought I would share my workaround since googles' change recently. First of all I really like the search option of being able to define the search in relation to time, so completely removing the sidebar was not something I wanted to do. Tip #1 works great but googlepedia will not work with that URL. With the change to google search, googlepedia would not display properly (too much blank space on right side) in FF 3.6.3 or wouldn't load at all. I used one userscript which allows the sidebar to be toggled off and on http://userscripts.org/scripts... and one userstyle http://userstyles.org/styles/2... I then had to go into the userstyle and edit (Tools-Addons-User Styles) to read:@namespace url(http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml);@-moz-document domain(google.com){#leftnav {display:important;}#center_col {margin-left:0; margin-right:0 !important;}

It would be nice if someone could put all this together in one userscript or userstyle but this works easily enough. I hope this is useful for anyone using firefox w/googlepedia.pp

For those that use googlepedia I thought I would share my workaround since googles' change recently. First of all I really like the search option of being able to define the search in relation to time, so completely removing the sidebar was not something I wanted to do. Tip #1 works great but googlepedia will not work with that URL. With the change to google search, googlepedia would not display properly (too much blank space on right side) in FF 3.6.3 or wouldn't load at all. I used one userscript which allows the sidebar to be toggled off and on http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/76155 and one userstyle http://userstyles.org/styles/29418. I then had to go into the userstyle and edit (Tools-Addons-User Styles) to read:
@namespace url(http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml);
@-moz-document domain(google.com)
{#leftnav {display:important;}
#center_col {margin-left:0; margin-right:0 !important;}

It would be nice if someone could put all this together in one userscript or userstyle but this works easily enough. I hope this is useful for anyone using firefox w/googlepedia.pp

Justin Pot is a technology journalist based in Portland, Oregon. He loves technology, people and nature – and tries to enjoy all three whenever possible. You can chat with Justin on Twitter, right now.